title: Alpha-pompilidotoxin (alpha-PMTX), a novel neurotoxin from the venom of a solitary wasp, facilitates transmission in the crustacean neuromuscular synapse.
abstract: A new neurotoxin, named alpha-pompilidotoxin (alpha-PMTX) has been found in the venom of the solitary wasp Anoplius safnariensis. In the neuromuscular synapse of the lobster walking leg preparation, alpha-PMTX (10-100 micro/M) caused great enhancement of both the excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Recordings of the excitatory post synaptic currents (EPSCs) at the synaptic sites showed that alpha-PMTX reversibly and dose-dependently potentiates EPSCs. Alpha-PMTX may act primarily on the presynaptic membrane but the mode of action of the toxin is clearly different from other known facilitatory neurotoxins, such as alpha-latrotoxin, apamin or charybdotoxin. This novel toxin will serve as a useful tool in the research field of neuroscience.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hisada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itagaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008121:Nephropidae; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014862:Wasp Venoms